Top 10: Ways To Befriend The Bartender

The local pub is one thing: You probably went to school with the bartender, maybe he's your kid's godfather, there's a Bud waiting for you when you cozy up to the bar, you have a tab that doesn't require a credit card -- ever.

But going out to crowded bars in big cities is a whole different game, one that requires a combination of patience and social grace. For some people, noticing social cues and gaining favor with the bartender comes easily. For others, the waiting game can be frustrating or embarrassing.